Case Study: Jehovah's Witnesses

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Jehovah's Witness don't believe in using the cross as a means of worship. The first reason this is true is because they do not actually believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross but instead more of a pole like structure that the Roman's were using during this time. Also they believe that the cross has become an idol, and that we are supposed to protect ourselves from them because Jehovah's Witnesses believe they should only be worshipping Jehovah. This shows that Jehovah's Witness want their members to be reminded that they should be focusing their thoughts and energy believing in their actual God rather than some symbol. Also I find that because as Americans we are forced to pledge allegiance to the flag which is symbolic of our country, it makes since why Jehovah's Witnesses stand strongly against organized government because they don't pledge allegiance to anything but God. God is the only symbol that Jehovah's believe is important and this is provided for by their message to the congregations that they should stick soley to their text and that scripture is the only symbol they should be looking to. They feel that a normally we wouldn't look at a cross favorably if it was used to kill our own brother, sister, or mother. In the same way they feel that we shouldn't look at a cross favorably for killing God.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Jehovah's believe that taking blood is against the bible, which in turn means taking blood at a hospital or in a medical emergency. They believe that blood is sacred to God, blood means life in Gods eyes, blood must not be taken or transfused, and blood was used only for the atonement of sins.

Jehovah's seem to be taking the bible literally in order to protect themselves from reading what might be a metaphorical meaning for blood. They are defending their beliefs because blood is sacred to them and the Jehovah's Witness pride themselves in living in God's word and will even refuse a blood transfusion till death. Such as a 14 year old boy named Dennis Lindberg. Jehovah's want to show that their movement is strong and that they are not the ones who are in total control of their bodies but instead teach that their bodies belong to God. They think that by making decisions such as taking blood goes against his teaching. Bible tells Christians to 'abstain from blood.' (Acts 15:28, 29). Jehovah's Witnesses want people to know that God will bless you and there are alternatives to blood transfusions. Jehovah's are pushing for the spread of knowledge that bloodless surgeries have provided the evidence of avoiding blood transfusions. Jehovah's want people to know that the only blood that saves lives is Jesus Christ's blood.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Their is a push for all true followers of Jehovah's Witness to delete their facebook because it is said that Jehovah's are beginning to associate with those that they normally wouldn't outside of the internet. There is strong controversy because it seems that "strong believers" think that facebook is a gateway to satan and that members are allowing themselves to observe and post inappropriate images and they are also allowing themselves to join groups and events that are not seen as a part of God's organization (Jehovah's-Witness.net JW's having facebook sex).

My thoughts:

There seems to be a lot of conflict over this issue because it appears that some JW's believe that the GB or Governing Body is reading way too strictly into the issue. Some believe that facebook has allowed them to connect with people they havn't had an ability to contact and stay contact with until facebook was released. The GB on the other hand is trying to protect its members by releasing what I feel is pretty extreme propaganda to get believers to become scared of the capabilities that facebook has. Lets face it, I understand that yes there is the ability to post sexual or nasty photos on facebook and potentially have "facebook sex," but the reality is that this is probably very rare. Also, if a Witness really wanted to, they would be able to find other means of cheating, doing nasty things, and finding pornography or other things even if facebook never existed. It seems that the Jehovah's Witness Governing Body is trying to attack the internet in fear of it corrupting the religion instead of trying to embrace it as a tool. As one witness proclaimed, the GB is doing whatever it can at any chance to "demonize the internet," and "Boom, everyone gets to hear about the dangers." Therefore, the GB feel the need to do a shock and scare campaign to get those who aren't as knowledgeable about facebook to maybe delete their newer accounts or prevent them from even creating accounts. They happen to also say that everything that you need to know about the world is in the bible, and that needing to know about the news of whats going on as far as facebook news is concerned is of no importance. Doesn't this seem pretty extreme and not really even remotely connected to what we're talking about? I think that the GB is doing a good job at trying to lead by example by stating the the "Watchtower," the respected Jehovah's Witness group, doesn't even have a facebook or the need for one; however, generaliznig that facebook is the tool of satan just because a few individuals are abusing it instead of using it for its proper function, doesn't mean that the use of facebook is wrong. I mean anything can be abused, and trust me even if facebook was not in existence, those Witnesses who choose to not live by Jehovah's every word would find another way to fulfill their fantasies.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Jehovah's witnesses believe that it is obvious that today's new attitudes towards homosexuality have prompted youths to start engaging in more homosexual behavior and start experimenting with same sex relationships. Jehovah's witness say that the bible leaves no room for confusion and they site the passage God made man and woman and that he purposed for sexual desires to be fulfilled only between husband and wife. (Genesis 1:27, 28; 2:24) Jehovah's witnesses are very strict to the scripture and they tend to believe that the bible is the flesh and word of Jehovah; therefore, there is not much room for interpretation.

Now the counter argument is that the bible is out of date and that it wasn't made for a world that we live in now. Jehovah's believe that the bible is correct and that people feel this way because they are confronted with ideas and believes that conflict with the original word. This response seems to be the scapegoat for getting away with rejecting God's word and doing our own thing. Essentially tolerating homosexuality and allowing it to become something that we are okay with. Instead God wants us to believe that he is looking out for us and not setting rules that are made to make life more difficult or impossible for us to follow. Jehovah God urges us to consider the fact that his commandments are for our good. (Isaiah 48:17, 18) God views homosexuality as a danger to ourselves, but it is not dangerous to feel that someone of the same sex as us is beautiful. Its actually normal to have competitive feelings, jealousy, and envy towards someone that is beautiful of the same sex. However the bible condones same sex acts and gives them the choice to choose between not participating and participating in homosexual acts. This shows that Jehovah's witnesses believe that we have a way of self controlling tendencies to become homosexual and that it is not a natural cause. Jehovah's don't believe that homosexuality is soley rooted in the genes, but they do believe that it might be caused from this. However, they believe that homosexuality is complex and that it can come from many different areas. They believe that it can be controlled by the self and good practice.

Jehovah's witnesses are now trying to spread tips and get people on board for preventative practice as far as homosexuality is concerned. Here is a few things that they are saying to try to get our youth equipped with knowledge before they make their choice.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

From Jehovah's Witness News, The Supreme Court located in Southern Siberia on January 27th, 2010, upheld an earlier ruling by the court in the capital, Gorno-Altaisk, outlawing 18 items of Jehovah's Witness literature as extremist. This means that whenever the Jehovah's followers willing use parts of their religious scripture it is now considered an illegal act. Right now there is not a direct appeal for the Jehovah's to cling to so instead they are rallying and making a movement to get the attention of the Supreme Court in Moscow. Three of the titles that were officially outlawed were of the 34 that had already been banned from a previous case which was decided in September of 2009. Jehovah's Witness are losing their rights and freedoms when it comes to their religion, and they are having a hard time understanding why their scripture is looked at as being so radical. They are saying that it doesnt make sense especially since their scripture promotes family values and friendly environments in neighborhoods. They feel that this is just a direct attack on their religion and a way to force them out of Russia.

Update:On December 8, 2009 the Russian Supreme Court's rejection of appeals and defense of the Rostov-on-Dog Regional Court finding of 34 pieces of extremist ensuring their band nationwide, opened the floodgate for Russia to continue future bannings on the distribution of Jehovah's Witness literature throughout Russia. Russia sees the Witnesses as a threat and this is made evident by the Supreme Court also upholding the liquidation of the Taganrog Jehovah's Witness congregation as extremist. When asked why the Jehovah's Witnesses are seen as extremist and if for example they have killed anyone, the asked to not be named, the Secretary for the Supreme Court Civil Case Division answered "To a certain extent, yes."

In response Grigory Martynov of the Jehovah's Witness expressed disappointment, telling forum 18 that " the decision was taken very quickly" (www.forum18.org).

Jehovah's Witnesses upset by these decisions are protesting, and Vasily Kalin, a former prisoner of Russia and now a head of Jehovah's Witness in Russia says, "The basic rights that the Jehovah's Witness are fighting for today are critical for the preservation of democratic freedoms in Russia." Witnesses are angry that two of their brothers were sentenced to 10 days administrative arrest accused of administrating extremist literature, when they said all they were doing is going from door to door sharing their knowledge. There seems to be a growing separation between Russia's tolerance of what religious values and beliefs are acceptable, and that Jehovah's Witness beliefs are falling on the opposite side of what is deemed okay. and that no longer is it okay or a constitutional right in Russia for one to be able to share one's religious convictions. Atleast to on of the arrested, Tomayev, who pleaded against Pochep District court (finaltrump.com).

Jehovah's witness bring relief supplies to aid Haiti victims. A day after the earthquake there was communication from New York and their branch in Haiti about getting supplies out to them as soon as possible. According to Jehovah's Witness news, the same day the buying department went into top gear buying staple products, such as rice, beans, milk, and canned foods. 7 days later 2 trucks and a van brought an additional 15 tons of product which included medical supplies to doctors in Haiti. The witnesses call other Jehovah's brothers and sisters. They are heavily concerned with providing fast support for the victims in the Haiti crisis. After reading a blog it was interesting to note that even the people writing on the forums were interested in how many brothers and sisters sent from home here in the US had helped those that weren't of the faith in Haiti. They were not only concerned about their own but about helping out everyone the same.

Updated Post Version:

Jehovah's Witnesses that arrived soon after the disaster said that just only after 24 hours on a non stop relief effort said that they "wouldn't have it any other. Hard work is our benefit. It makes us stronger and more satisfied!" The Jehovah's Witnesses' feel that it is an honor to be able to come to Haiti and help their brothers. The people who came to help included witnesses France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and many more. A group of Witness Dominican doctors arrived in less than 24 hours and they consisted of 19 orthopedic surgeons, a general surgeon, and other medical disciplines (Dominicantoday.com).

Now the important thing to note is that having this earthquake and relief from Jehovah's Witnesses has shed light that the Jehovah's Witnesses are loving people and that they want to help and people good citizens. However, what is more important to understand is that the Witnesses have been active in Haiti the last 80 years promoting bible study and doing other forms of work. The Jehovah's Witnesses have been helping in Haiti way long before the accident ever occurred.

This is nothing new in history, as the Orthodox Catholic Church has always been out to take over and cleanse the world of other sects and churches. Since the Jehovah's witness are a direct enemy, the Russian Orthodox Church has set against them by driving them out of their land. Russia considers the Jehovah's only a religious sect and therefore contributing to illegal activities. The estate that they are trying to evict them from was said to be worth 350 million dollars; however, their argument against the Jehovah's witnesses is that the land was purchased illegally. This all stems from most organized religions hate against Jehovah's witness because of their strong belief that they are the only true form of Christianity and that they represent true Christianity and that all other religions that fail to meet all the requirements by GOD will be destroyed. Therefore, there are a lot of Christians and denominations that have looked against the Jehovah's throughout history

In response to Jolie:

Sorry, let me clarify what I am trying to say: Human rights organizations along with civic organizations have are appealing to the Russian Federation Human rights Ombudsperson, which is Russia's Public chamber and Council under the President for the Promotion of Institutes of Civic Society and Human Rights (http://eng.maidanua.org/node/1029).

These organizations are calling for the end of abuse and persecution against minority religions including the Jehovah's Witnesses. The example of the eviction of the branch in Moscow is yet just another example of the Orthodox Church's attack against these minority religions. Now to fuel the fire of why the Church is displeased with the Jehovah's Witness "sect" is because for example, Jehovah's witnesses refuse to join in military service. They believe so strongly that their religion is the way, that they will stay "true to their beliefs, even to the point of persecution and imprisonment (http://eng.maidanua.org/node/1029). " I use this as an example to explain why the Orthodox Church of Russia has differences with Jehovah's Witnesses and feels the need to abuse them by driving them from their estate.